Constitutional Amendment Faces Uncertain Future: Bilawal

Islamabad-(Mudassar Iqbal)-PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has expressed concerns that passing a constitutional amendment through Parliament will become increasingly challenging after October 25. This date holds significance as it marks the retirement of incumbent Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa, who will be succeeded by senior puisne judge Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.

Bilawal shared his concerns with a Supreme Court Press Association delegation at the Zardari House, citing the reserved seats case decision as a potential hurdle. He emphasized that if amendments are made before October 25, complications can be avoided.

The proposed constitutional amendment, known as the 26th Constitutional Amendment, aims to establish a fixed three-year tenure for the chief justice of Pakistan. Despite initial plans to introduce the legislation in the National Assembly and Senate last month, the government struggled to secure necessary support.

A special parliamentary committee meeting on September 15 discussed the proposed amendments, attempting to bring opposition parties on board. However, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman rejected the amendments on September 18, while supporting the demand for constitutional courts without person-specific legislation.

The government’s efforts to pass the amendment have been met with resistance, and Bilawal’s statement suggests that time is running out ¹. With the clock ticking, it remains to be seen whether the government can muster the required support to pass the amendment before October 25.

While,

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said on Wednesday that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman is having the wish to take the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on board over the constitutional amendment.

Speaking to media in Islamabad, the former foreign minister foresaw the “face-to-face” situation on the constitutional amendment after October 25. “We will not let leave the matter of the constitutional court without wrapping up.”

“We have already faced delays in this matter. We have been putting forward the demand of establishing the constitutional court since 2006,” he said.

“Why timing has not been discussed on what the judiciary has done. The prohibition order had been issued on the reserved seats, but the timing was not discussed,” Bhutto-Zardari said.

“We are not in favor of establishing the military courts,” he stated.

“The reason for the establishment of the federal constitutional court is the history of the Supreme Court (SC),” Bhutto-Zardari maintained.

Separately, few days back, JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said on Friday that the incumbent government has not even taken the allies on board over the constitutional amendment.

Expressing his thoughts, Haideri said: “When we had asked for the negotiations, then when were shown the draft. The oath had been taken on not sharing the draft with anybody else.”

Haideri questioned: “How is legislation possible by keeping things secret?”

“There was a violation of human rights in the governmental draft,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and JUI-F’s legal team held a meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to the constitutional amendment.